By Margaret Hicks
Eagle Staff Writer
mhicks@theoklahomaeagle.net
Langston Hughes Academy for Arts & Technology (LHA) has made leaps and bounds since it opened its doors to a class of freshmen on August 19, 2015. At that time LHA shared space in the Edu-Rec building, but has since moved to its own campus at 1821 E. 66th Street N. in Tulsa, Okla.
On the morning of August 21, Dr. Rodney Clark, with much excitement and enthusiasm, welcomed back his returning students, who are now 10th and 11th graders, and welcomed new ninth, 10th and 11th graders as well.
Students were looking sharp, pristine, and professional, as they moved around the auditorium to locate and sit with their advisors. Once the students found their place, Clark introduced the returning and new faculty and staff. Sheila Asberry-Clark, Dr. Clark’s wife, is a member of the faculty as well.
As previously reported in The Oklahoma Eagle back in 2015, LHA has a Langston University connection. Dr. Kent J. Smith, Jr., Langston’s 16th president, spoke with The Oklahoma Eagle back then and spoke of the launch of a new charter school. He said, “This [LHA] is one that I am really excited about. We have several partnerships with charter schools in this state and this will be our fourth partnership… One of the reasons I am particularly excited is because this will be a high school collaboration…” All of the other Langston project schools are elementary or middle schools. Deborah Brown Community School and Dove Science Academy are in Tulsa. Dove is a college prep school for grades 6-12.
The Oklahoma Eagle spoke with a parent, who identified herself as “Mahogany” whose son has been at the school for two years. She had this to say: “…in a nutshell, it’s an all-around school. I love it because it is small and it allows the kids to be held accountable, it gives them structure and helps them build self-worth…because you have hands on access, and the fact that you can be an involved parent without limitations makes it all the more better! It’s very family oriented and now that that they have their very own personal chef it’s gonna be even better!”
Part of the aspiration is to make sure LHA grads are accepted into college, and most importantly complete college- and on both these fronts, our sources suggest, Langston University will have a special role.
LHA’s first graduation class will be in 2019.
